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Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Today, we're talking with one of my favorite suspense authors. So take a deep breath before we begin. Welcome, Brandilyn. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

I don’t have favorite spiritual themes, as the theme for each of my suspense novels grows naturally out of the protagonist’s characterization and her predicament. Often when I start writing the story I don’t know what the spiritual element will be. I concentrate on the suspense plot, and the theme shapes itself in the writing.

With Deceit, it was a little different. Because of the plot and characters, I knew it would be about deceit and how we all can let it creep into our lives. The protagonist, the antagonist and the victim are all Christians. But what is going on beneath the surface in their lives? And what spiritual lessons can the reader draw from their weaknesses? The fast-paced plot works naturally to drive home the message of the story.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

Final Touch, third and final in the young adult Rayne Tour series, released in May. (This series is co-written with my daughter, Amberly.) I just turned in a novel titled Over the Edge that’s a suspense centered around Lyme Disease. It’s the story I was born to write, given my own experience with the illness. Over the Edge will release in May 2011.

Yes, we fetured Final Touch on this blog. And I want to feature Over the Edge. As you know, my very good friend, Lisa Buffalo, also had Lyme disease, so it's close to my heart. If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?

Dean Koontz. I love his characterization and metaphorical writing. And I’d enjoy talking to him about the underlying themes of good and evil in his novels.

What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?

Gandhi. He was a fascinating blend of religions and ideas, many of them Christian. My father did meet Gandhi while my parents were in India. I’ve heard my mom talk about the day Gandhi died. All that day Indian people came in and out of their house to listen to the news on the radio. They’d quietly slip in, listen, then leave. No one talked. It was like a wake as they listened to that radio, which was the only one for miles around.

How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?

I was talking to someone just this morning. She told me how she was once again writing on her manuscript and was almost done. This manuscript has seen numerous forms, and she’s been working on it for years. She’s had rejection after rejection from agents and publishers. The last round of rejections did her in. She quit. All of the usual cynical questions plagued her. “What am I doing this for? No one cares! There’s no point. I quit, quit, quit.”
Now she’s back at it.

I said to her, “That is the mark of a real writer. We get rejected, we quit, but at some point we get up and get back to writing. We can’t not write.” And that is what I say to all those who are rejected. (And all us writers are at some point or another.) If you’re born to write, you’ll write. You may quit, but you’ll go back to it. And eventually you’ll see some reward.

Tell us about the featured book.

Here’s the back cover copy for Deceit:

Sometimes the truth hides where no one expects to find it.

Joanne Weeks knows Baxter Jackson killed Linda—his second wife and Joanne’s
best friend—six years ago. But Baxter, a church elder and beloved member of
the town, walks the streets a free man. The police tell Joanne to leave well
enough alone, but she is determined to bring him down. Using her skills as a
professional skip tracer, she sets out to locate the only person who may be able
to put Baxter behind bars. Melissa Harkoff was a traumatized sixteen-year-old
foster child in the Jackson household when Linda disappeared. At the time
Melissa claimed to know nothing of Linda's whereabouts—but was she lying?

In relentless style, Deceit careens between Joanne's pursuit of the truth—which puts her own life in danger—and the events of six years' past, when Melissa came to live with the Jacksons. What really happened in that
household? Beneath the veneer of perfection lies a story of shakeable faith, choices, and the lure of deceit.

A very interesting premise. Please give us the first page of the book.

Some evil shouts from rooftops, some scuttles in the dark. The greatest evil tips its face toward light with shining innocence.

My sister followed my gaze to the article. “Maybe it really was an accident, Joanne.”

I shot her a look of accusation and hurt. “You, too?” As if the rest of the town weren’t enough. “I thought you agreed with me.”

She drew a long breath. “I don’t know what to think. Two wives gone does look suspicious, but there’s no proof Baxter did anything. Once Cherisse’s death was ruled an accident—”

“How many people fall down stairs and die, Dineen, even if they are hardwood? That only happens in old movies.”

“But that’s what the coroner said.”

“The Sheriff-Coroner’s up for reelection next year, and who do you suppose gave the most to his last campaign?”

“I know, but I just can’t believe any coroner would find signs of a murder and look the other way, especially this man. I mean, I know Bud Gidst. So do you.”

I pushed back my chair, picked up my plate and stacked hers on top. Marched them over to the sink and set them down none too gently. I loved my sister like crazy, always had. She was twelve years younger, and I’d always looked after her. I steered her clear of bratty, bully girls in grade school, the wrong guys in high school. I urged her to fight her self-serving ex in court until he paid the two years’ worth of child support he owed for Jimmy. But the fact was, Dineen had always been too trusting. She just couldn’t believe bad about anybody until it hit her in the face.

“Sometimes people don’t want to see the truth, Dineen.” I rinsed the plates, the water hissing. “Autopsy findings are open to interpretation. To say all those bruises and contusions on Cherisse’s head didn’t match a fall down the stairs would be calling Baxter Jackson a liar. Maybe Bud didn’t want to believe that.”

Or maybe his ruling was far more sinister. Baxter Jackson was the richest man in Vonita and practically ran the town. He sponsored a Little League baseball team every year and personally paid for Vonita’s Fourth of July fireworks. He was everybody’s best friend. Nobody in the county ever spoke against Baxter.

Except me.I love that hook. I can hardly wait to get my copy of the book. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers, here's a link. By using it when you order the book, you help support this blog.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Bonnie Leon dabbled in writing for many years but never set it in a place of priority until an accident in 1991 left her unable to work at her job. She is now the author of several historical fiction series, including the Sydney Cove series, Queensland Chronicles, the Matanuska series, the Sowers Trilogy, and the Northern Lights series. She also stays busy teaching women’s Bible studies, speaking, and teaching at writing seminars and women’s gatherings. Bonnie and her husband, Greg, live in Southern Oregon. They have three grown children and four grandchildren.

I'm thrilled to feature Bonnie's newest release. I was privileged to read it for endorsement, which appears on the back cover. "Vivid writing. Bonnie Leon immerses the read in the time period, the setting, and deep into the hearts of the characters. I didn't want to leave them behind when I closed the book."

Welcome, Bonnie. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

Redemption seems to show up in a lot of my books. I think that’s because much of my young adult life I felt lost and hopeless. When I was twenty-three I met Christ. I will never forget the moment I understood my value and how deeply God loved me, just as I am. I want everyone to know they are loved and that forgiveness can be found in Christ.

Trusting God is something I struggle with. I’m an independent person with a tendency toward rebellion so I wrestle with myself over this issue. Maybe that’s why it ends up in so many of my characters.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

I don’t have anything else releasing soon, but book two in the Alaskan Skies series will be out next year.I must feature it on my blog, too. If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?

That’s a difficult question. There are so many people I’d love to spend time with. But if I have to choose just one, it would be George W. Bush. I will never forget the days following 9/11—I was so grateful he was our president and that he was looking after our country. I appreciate his faith and although he wasn’t a perfect president (is there one?) I greatly admire his courage and his faith.James and I often discussed how blessed we felt because he was the man our country needed at that time. . .and later. What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?

I’d love to spend an evening with Corey Ten Boom. She was an amazing woman of faith.

That is true, too. Her story has strengthened and blessed me in times of distress. How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?

It’s painful to work hard, thinking we’ve done our best and then have our stories rejected. How we manage that is all about perspective. Every writer has had their work turned down at some point. It’s part of the journey. I truly believe that the process of writing and receiving rejections are a necessary part of refining us and our work. If we’re diligent, listen and learn we will grow. The process is a testing ground, a place where we discover whether or not we have the metal to stand up to what the business of writing will throw at us.Tell us about the featured book?

It is 1935 and Kate Evans is looking for adventure. She finds that and more in the Alaskan territory.

Kate is an adventurous and independent woman with a pioneering spirit. When she leaves her home in Washington State to follow her dream of being an Alaskan bush pilot, she knows it will be an uphill battle. Even so, the adventure is more than she expects. As the lone woman in a man’s world, she finds that contending with people’s expectations is almost as treacherous as navigating the wild arctic storms.

When she crosses paths with a mysterious man living alone in the forbidding wilderness, she faces a new challenge. Can she break through the walls he has put up around his heart? And will fear keep her from realizing her own dreams?

Touching the Clouds is an adventure with raw emotion and suspense set against the stunning backdrop of the Alaskan wilds.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Kate Evans pushed open the screen door and stepped onto the broad front porch of her parents’ farmhouse. This was supposed to be her wedding day. Instead, her lace, floor-length gown hung in her closet.

Shifting her pack over one shoulder, she moved to the railing. Closing her eyes, she savored the feel of a cool breeze on her skin and breathed in the subtle fragrance of sun-heated grass. Richard’s image stormed against her peace. She could see his blond curls spilling onto his brow, his wounded eyes. He’d always been steady, but her announcement had staggered him. She wanted to love him enough to stay, but the turmoil she’d been feeling had escalated until she felt she had no choice—she just couldn’t go through with it.

She gripped the porch railing, anxiety sweeping over her like a summer squall. Had she made a terrible mistake? It was one thing to postpone the wedding and quite another to call it off altogether.

They’d been friends since childhood and were comfortable with each other. But did that mean they belonged together? If she stayed, she’d be forced to give up her longtime dream and would have to settle for a commonplace life.How can readers find you on the Internet?

Thank you, Bonnie. I loved Kate from that first page.Readers, here's a link. By using it when you order the book, you help support this blog.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

I'm glad to have Gail on my blog. I love her books. Gail is actually in Europe right now, so I don't know if she'll be able to interact with you, or not. Welcome Gail. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Certainly my interests and faith are reflected in my work, but I don’t pattern characters after my personality. I have used overly neat characters in two novels, and that’s one of my traits.What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Much of my life is quirky but not always things I want to talk about. But one weirdest thing that comes to mind is going up in a hotair balloon when I have a tremendous fear of heights. I wanted to include the event in one of my novels. It was a great experience I would do it again.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

In the third grade, my teacher wrote a “Gail is a good writer” in my report card. I wrote poetry and short stories. I knew I loved books and wanted to a writer. The reality didh’t happen until over forty years later.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I love women’s fiction. Many of my favorites are secular authors, such as: Maeve Binchy, Rosamund Pilcher, and Anne Tyler. I enjoy Christian women’s fiction—Lisa Samson is one of my favorites—and also suspense. Oddly I’ve never been a romance reader although that’s what I write mainly .If you want to know why, ask God.

What other books have you written, whether published or not?

The list is far too long. Bride in Training is my forty-fourth published novel. My books are mainly romance, but I’ve also written romantic suspense and women’s fiction. I enjoy writing books in series. The Loving series contained seven novels revolving around a fictitious town called Loving, Michigan. Each story was stand alone but included characters from the other stories so keeping track of them over the years was task.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I question if I’ve kept it, but if I have, I do it through organization, concentration, and prayer.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Names have a personality. I try to find a name that fits my character. I use a website that provides information about names, and I check that for ideas. I also avoid using names that begin with the same letter or sounds too much like another character’s name in the book, such as Tom and Tim.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

In life, being happily married for 25 years and growing in my faith. In writing, having many of my books win national awards and having The Christmas Kite optioned by Producer Larry Levinson for a Hallmark TV movie.

That's really exciting--all of it. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

Since reading Watership Down, I’ve had a fondness for Rabbits. I suppose I also felt sorry for Peter Rabbit as a kid, too. My yard is filled with them, so a rabbit would be my choice. They are quiet, docile, and cuddly.

What is your favorite food?

Do you have a few hours? I love food in general. Food is a social event that has always been important in my family. When company comes food is involved. I love to cook and so does my husband. We enjoy restaurants, especially Greek, Mid-Eastern and Italian. Give me, tzaziki sauce chicken shawarma and pizza to name three things in the list of thousands that I enjoy.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Pacing was a problem for me and held me back from publication. I delved into the topic and learned the importance of pacing and techniques that helped me overcome the problem.

What advice would you give to an author just starting out?

Like any skill, learning to write for publication takes patience, practice and perseverance. Traditional publishers accepts only quality writing that reflects the author’s talent and the skill of using writing techniques effectively. It’s worth the wait to see your books in stores where you receive a fair wage for your labor, as the Bible says.

Tell us about the featured book?

Bride In Training is the third and last book in the Man’s Best Friend series. The three stories are based on three women involved with a dog shelter. This book is Emily’s story where she is a dog sitter/walker and works part-time for the shelter. Emily has faced a scandalous past, and her shame holds her back from living fully. When she helps train Martin Davis’s dog, she realizes Martin needs some training too, but Emily ends up learning the most about forgiveness and love.

This series was written in memory of our daughter Brenda who died in 2006. She loved animals and owned two border collies, active in agility and flyball. Brenda fostered dogs and was an excellent dog trainer. She would have loved this series.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Good decision? Bad?

Martin Davis gripped his steering wheel as he eyed the shelter’s Time for Paws neon sign glowing in the dusk. He’d never thought he would darken the doors of a dog shelter, but he was. Now the question hung in his mind. Was it a good decision or bad one? He’d become lonely without Suzette, his Bouvier, but he hadn’t been able to handle her. Sometimes he wondered what he could handle. Not dogs or women, apparently.

So if he couldn’t deal with Suzette, why come here to look for another dog? He released his grip on the steering wheel, fell back against the seat, and rubbed his temples. Because he couldn’t bear coming home to an empty house longer. He’d been a failure as a husband. Cats were too aloof. Dogs? He had hopes.

Martin ran his fingers through his hair. He’d been alone for eight years since his wife walked out on him. The loneliness had faded, he thought, but since his brother, Nick, married, he had stopped dropping by for visits. That was the whole of it. Being alone wasn’t for Martin anymore.

Thank you, Gail, for spending this time with us.Readers, here's the link. By using this link when you order the book, you help support this blog.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

I'm really thrilled to have Ronie Kendig back with her second book release, Nightshade, the first book in her Discarded Heroes series.

Welcome, Ronie. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I have a passion for hurting/broken people, and all of my stories reflect that—along with a heaping dose of action and danger—and I know I’m reaching a different audience than those who write historicals or chick lit. This is where God has gifted me to share with His hurting children. What an honor!

I love the way God gives each of us our own unique type of books to write. Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

The day I married the hero and love of my life! I’d captured a good one and wanted to get to the altar as fast as I could before he could get away. *grins* Brian, in so many ways, typifies the men I write about—heroic, handsome, godly, and fun!

Yes, he is. How has being published changed your life?

It’s made me grow up, I guess you could say. Before my first contract, I was writing more for my pleasure. Between my first and second contracts, God took me on a journey. He nudged me to learn in a deep and intimate way how to write for an Audience of One—he removed my “desire” to write, so that when I did write, it was simply because He asked me to. Not because I felt like it. Not because I wanted to write (for the first time ever, I was actually *averse* to writing). Soon after this, I realized writing, getting published, having my book in my hands is NOT the reason I’m writing. I’m writing because He gave me a gift. I’m writing because there’s someone God needs to reach through my words. It’s not about me.

What are you reading right now?

What I’m reading is as much inspired by mood as it is by the author. Right now, I am working through the following titles:

What Was Asked of Us: An Oral History of the Iraq War by the Soldiers Who Fought It by Trish WoodPowers by my big brother John OlsonKiss by Ted DekkerFire in Fiction by Donald Maass

What is your current work in progress?

I am currently working on two. Digitalis is the second book in the Discarded Heroes series, and The Cenoan Strand is a time travel that I am keeping on the back burner for those nights when I need a diversion (shh . . . don’t tell my agent :-) ).

I can't help it if he reads my blog. What would be your dream vacation?

Dream vacation . . . dream vacation . . . hmm, that’s a toss up between three: a cruise like my in-laws just took of the Greek Isles and Italy, or a visit to India, or a genealogy-linked trip to Canada, London, and Ireland (where I’d visit my cousins, aunts/uncles).How do you choose your settings for each book?

For Dead Reckoning I wanted it set in the Arabian Sea, so I searched the surrounding countries, and through a process of elimination, ended up in India. For the Discarded Heroes, they’re a deep-six military group, so I take them to foreign countries. Each story will have missions in various places but the bulk of the story will be centered in one place but that locale usually will affect my character in some way. Nightshade, for example, is largely set in the Philippines. Digitalis will bathe us in the beauty of Israel.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

Besides a family member? I’m thinking President GW Bush. I’m a huge people person, and even though my husband said he’d love to pick his brain and while this is also probably a very unpopular answer, for me it’s more about knowing him, understanding him, hearing his experiences. I know many don’t like him or think he’s messed up, but I think he challenged a nation and championed life/heart issues. He took a country through a very difficult time, and I respect him for that. I'd love to join you in that meeting. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Although I haven’t done this in a while, I love cross-stitching and hope to resume it. I hope to take up gardening (flowers, not veggies) again soon as well. Since I homeschool, most of my time is spent on my kids and writing.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Other than sitting in the chair and writing?? :-) Wow, all the answers coming to mind sound so lame. I home-school my kiddos, so it’s a challenge to get focused and ignore the blood-curdling screams from the living room. And to overcome it—I “just do it.” I put headphones on and shove myself into the story. Oh, yeah . . . I always have music that relates to each story that helps me drown out the real world. For Nightshade, I listened to Christian hard rock like Red and Pillar. Because Max was so intense, I needed revved-up music.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Don’t quit. That’s the easy part. Press on and dig in—that’s the only way you’ll make it. Writing will challenge you and break your heart (at times), but it will also stir you and allow you to be a conduit for ministering God’s love and reality to others. What more could you want? Oh, yeah—and that whole thing you’re wondering . . . ya know the question I’m talking about—the “Am I really called to write?”—well, stop wondering. I have a theory that if you’re pondering that question, then you ARE called to write, because the devil’s not going to waste time on someone who isn’t called. He’s not going to come to steal, kill, and destroy if it doesn’t benefit him. So smile. Relax. Be the threat (to the devil and his workhorse) that you were meant to be! :-)Tell us about the featured book?

Nightshade is the first book of the Discarded Heroes series. In this book, a former Navy SEAL attempts to scrape together the pieces of his life a little too late—his wife has filed a petition for divorce, he’s resigned his commission as a SEAL, and the only thing he has left is self-hatred. He tries to end it all, and even fails at that. Then he’s recruited into Nightshade, a deep-six black ops team whose identities are only known by one man. Their first mission is to rescue a missionary family trapped on an island where insurgents and radicals are fighting for control. On the mission, the team encounters someone tracking them—a reporter . . . the SEAL’s estranged wife. In the darkest hour of his life, he fights not for his life, but for the heart of his wife and their marriage.

Wow! I can hardly wait to read it. Please give us the first page of the book.

Cracking open the throttle ignited a wild explosion of power and speed. Zero to sixty in less than three seconds left Max Jacobs breathless. Gut pressed to the spine of his Hayabusa, he bore down the mountainous two-lane road away from civilization, away from . . . everything. Here only pine trees, concrete and speed were his friends.

His bike screamed as it ate up the road. The thrill burst through him. He needed the rush. Craved it. Stop running, Max. Her words stabbed his conscience. Made him mad.

Rounding a bend, he slowed and sighted the drop-off in the road—remembered a full 10% grade, straight down. His gaze bounced between the speedometer and the cement. Common sense told him to decelerate. The boiling in his veins said otherwise.

He twisted the throttle.

Eighty.

Max leaned into the bike and felt the surge.

Ninety.

He sucked in a breath as he sped toward the break.

The road dropped off. The Hayabusa roared as the wheels sailed out. He tried to grip the handlebars tighter as nothing but tingling Virginia oxygen enveloped him. Silence gaped.

This could be it. This could end it all. No more pain. No more life without Syd . . .

Take me. Just take me.

The Hayabusa plummeted.

Straight down. Concrete. Like a meteor slamming to earth.

The back tire hit. A jolt shot through the bike. Then the front tire bounced. Rattling carried through the handlebars and into his shoulders. He grabbed the brake—

Stupid! The brake locked. Rear tire went right. He tried to steer into the skid but momentum flipped him up. Over. Pops snapped through his back as he spiraled through the air. In the chaos his bike gave chase, kicking and screaming as it tore after him.

Crack! Pop! The sound of his crashing bike reverberated through the lonely country lane. Scenery whirled. Pine trees whipped into a Christmas-color frosting. Tree bark blurred into a menagerie of browns, drawing closer and closer.

Thud! His head bounced off the cement. He flipped again.

Finally. It’d be over. He closed his eyes. No more—

THUD! “Oof.” The breath knocked from his lungs. Pain spiked his shoulders and spine. Fire lit across his limbs and back as he slid from one lane to another. Down the road, spinning. Straight toward the trees.

He winced, arched his back. Kicking, he tried to gain traction. If he wasn’t going to die, he didn’t want to end up paralyzed. Just like you not to think it through.

He dumped into a ditch.

Smack!

Everything went black.

How can you leave us hanging like that?? More important, how can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers, here's a link to the book. By using this link when you order, you help this blog.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Today, we're talkign to Niki Anderson. Welcome, Niki. You are writing nonfiction. Do you also write fiction?

I don’t write fiction but I use a basic fiction structure for writing the anecdotes and stories that serve as examples in supporting my non-fiction themes.

What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?

That I’m just like them. I’m not exempt from the vagaries of life just because I’m an author and teacher. When I share the upshot of a story, you can be sure I was first the learner-student, and only secondly, am I the teacher-author. I write from my heart and experience, not from religious theory. A quote at the bottom of my author bio best describes my motivation for writing. “I delight in sharing the truths that are vital to my own life.”

Tell us about your family.

My husband is a retired manufacturing engineer. He now volunteers once weekly transporting veterans to their appointments at our nearby vet’s hospital. He builds craftsman furniture as a hobby (believe me, I’m blessed!), works part-time as a bike mechanic at REI (we both love bicycling), and rides a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in the summertime—with me on the backside if there’s a restaurant dinner at the end of the ride! Best of all, he loves me supremely; he’s the best prize a woman could win. Married 36 years in May, we have two married adult children, Jodie and J.J., and two granddaughters, ages three and seven.

Have you written other nonfiction books?

My four books include three inspirational non-fiction cat story titles and a gardening book, which is also a devotional collection.

What other books have you written, and where can the readers of the blog find them?

My bestseller, What My Cat Has Taught Me About Life (300,000 sold), and a second collection, Ins-pur-r-rational Stories for Cat Lovers, are still available at Amazon, and in new and used editions from dozens of Amazon vendors. Whiskers, Wit, and Wisdom: True Cat Tales and the Lessons They Teach, my latest, was released in July 2009. It can be ordered from any bookstore (Barnes and Nobles, etc.), from www.christianbook.com and on Amazon. The gardening book, What I Learned from God While Gardening, is out-of-print but available online.

Do you have any other books in the works right now?

I’m taking a break due to bursitis in my shoulder which doesn’t resolve without a keyboard recess. But I’m currently blogging on the topic of lifestyle balance, a subject I love.

Gardening, entertaining girlfriends and couples, antique collecting, and serving high tea in my home are all hobbies that renew me. Reading, of course, is like savoring chocolate; I love everything from poetry and Bible commentaries, to history, literary fiction, and how-to nonfiction. And believe it or not, I even love housecleaning! This year I’m also cooking and serving a once-monthly ethnic dinner for my son and daughter-in-law. Thus far, we’ve feasted on fare from Russia, France, and England. Next month we’ll sample classic Thai. The best part is the guarantee of an evening of fellowship around a wonderful meal.

Why did you write the featured book?

After two previous cat books, I supposed I would move on to a new subject. But I kept hearing cat stories that begged to be told. I filed the stories, and at last, I decided to write a third collection. And naturally, Myles my red tabby, and Claw-dia my husband’s Maine Coon, were quite pleased with the decision.

What do you want the reader to take away from the book?

All my books point to a warm and approachable God. I want readers to view Him as an accessible Father who is both all-loving and altogether practical. The cat stories are merely a bridge to the heart of the cat lover, helping the reader to identify with the great spiritual truths of the Bible through the storyline of a true cat tale. The book is effective, by the way, for people not yet acquainted with a personal God. I don’t use religious jargon in the crossover, and I present God as the irresistible Friend for whom everyone longs.

Thank you, Niki, for the interesting interview.Readers, here's a link to the book. By using the link when you order, you help support this blog.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

"The Matador Hotel died on July 5th, 1965, but they didn’t bother burying it until last fall."
Cowboy For A Rainy Afternoon, Stephen Bly

The plot for Cowboy For A Rainy Afternoon developed like homemade stew in a crockpot. A slow simmer. Then, the image of the 1950s kitchen filled with sweet aromas and sights and sounds. Hours later all the parts seemed ready.

The story grew out of fond memories from my childhood. What makes it real personal is that I was 10-years-old in 1954, just like the narrator. And I did hear numerous accounts about the “old days.” At that time, Johnny Appleseed was a legendary hero. I learned about him at the knee of my Indiana grandma. She figured anyone who dedicated himself to planting apple trees must be a good guy.

I often get asked where I grew up. Readers of my westerns suppose I was born and raised in some rough and tumble part of the west amid gunfights and wild adventures. Well, they’re somewhat right. Home for me was a ranch north of Visalia, California, in the great San Joaquin Valley.

“That doesn’t sound like the wild west,” they say.

They’re wrong. From Joaquin Murietta to the Dalton Brothers, Visalia Saddles to the Miller and Lux Ranch. . .that valley’s filled with western history. One of my favorite tales involved the gunfight and capture of Sontag and Evans at Stone Corral, a few miles down the road from our home.

"Cribbage and cowboys. . .I figured I fit right in."Cowboy For A Rainy Afternoon, Stephen Bly

It seems quite natural for me to write about a grandpa and the game of cribbage. My grandpa taught me to play when I was 4-years-old. I played him once or twice a week until he died when I turned 15. In the book Pop’s name is Theodore and his wife is Katie, same as my grandparents.

Talk slow and think deep. It’s part of the Code of the West. Some scoff at the notion of an unwritten set of rules that honest men lived by. Politically correct history books deny the Code’s existence. Those authors and professors didn’t grow up in the West. I remember in the mid-1980s standing at the graveside of my uncle. At the time, his place encompassed around 14,000 acres. As I looked down at the coffin of my Uncle Buster, an old-timer slid up beside me. “He was a good man, son. He lived by the Code.”

"There’s a quiet buzz from antique ceiling fans, like six thousand crickets, all out of tune. You don’t even notice, until there’s silence."Cowboy For A Rainy Afternoon, Stephen Bly

Woolworth’s department stores provided lots of pleasure for kids like me. Like a Dollar Store, they included a soda fountain lunch counter, better merchandise, and a friendly clerk behind every counter. By 2001 the company focused on sporting goods and changed its name to Foot Locker Inc. A classic example of a company that adapted to the market needs.

In today’s consumer shopping mall world, it’s hard for some to envision the incredible thrill of merchandise-packed Five & Dimes. I couldn’t believe so many products existed. I’m not sure kids today can experience anything near that excitement. A $.49 badge? That’s what Little Brother, the 10-year-old narrator, gets. A little spendy for 1954. I remember getting a 25-cent a week allowance, provided I did all my chores, in a time when $1.00 per hour provided a decent wage.

My bedroom teemed with White Owl cigar boxes, my granddad’s favorite cigar. He didn’t smoke them much; mainly he chewed them. And because I lived across the road from him, I got many of his boxes. Lots of childhood treasures can be stored in a cigar box.

"Folks today think that 1954 existed in some other galaxy, on some other planet. Maybe they’re right. It’s hard to believe that world and this one are made of the same stuff."Cowboy For A Rainy Afternoon, Stephen Bly

I can’t tell you about television in 1954. We didn’t have one yet. Didn’t matter. Didn’t need one. When I came home from school, I did chores or played outside until dark and Mom made me come indoors. Now, that does sound like a century ago.

I did not know cowboys named Quirt, Bronc, Thad, Shorty, Coosie or Pop. But I knew men much like them. In fact, most folks called my Grandpa Wilson “Pop.” I once met an old-timer in Magdalena, New Mexico, who had been a sheriff in the 1930s. He still packed a pistol and watched the door, just in case someone he sent to prison got out and scouted him for revenge. I based my character, Quirt Payton, on him.

All the aged cowboys I ever met wore long-sleeved shirts, usually some faded shade of white, with the collar buttoned. This kept the dirt out when he rode down the trail or behind a herd of slow moving cows. Also, an old beat-up Stetson and yellowed cigarettes stained their fingers.

I don’t suppose the current generation has ever ridden in the open trunk of a car, nor let the air down in the tires to drive down a railroad track (and they call skateboarding an extreme sport). At one point, the six cowboys in the novel, plus Miss Diane Anderson, and the boy narrator, pile into a ’49 Plymouth, without seatbelts. I could have been the poster child for the need of such safety devices. I fell out of my parents’ car, going about 55 miles per hour, in 1949. I spent 10 days in the hospital nursing a major concussion.

At least one of the stories happened to me. In 1994, in Telluride, I was told by the hotel clerk I couldn’t get a room. He intimated I wasn’t their kind. My gruffy appearance after a week’s research in the wilds didn’t impress them. So, I drove all the way to Cortez for a room, arriving about midnight. To say I was ticked is an understatement.

It’s like I’m right there in the room with these old-timers. Some of these scenes I do recall first-hand. I remember going to see a friend of my grandfather’s at a 4-story hotel in central California in the mid-1950s. His room was carpeted with out-dated newspapers that he hadn’t got around to reading yet. Such images last forever.

My favorite things to do when the weather threatens and I can’t play golf: oil the saddles, clean the Winchesters, or write a novel about the Old West.

In Cowboy For A Rainy Afternoon I discover that maybe I wasn’t born 100 years too late.

Readers, Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

Monday, June 21, 2010

I'm honored to host Lauraine Snelling on my blog. I've been blessed when readers told me that my writing reminds them of hers. Welcome, Lauraine. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I would say very little, until I realized how many of my life experiences end up in characters; ie my knowledge of horses for the girls’ books, my daughter’s death and how I/we responded to that, used in both One Perfect Day and earlier than that, The Healing Quilt. While determined is another word for stubborn, I’ve been accused of both and many of my characters deal with and through that trait. I spent several years as a child on our farm in Minnesota with no electricity. Who would have dreamed God was preparing me to write my historical farming novels? I don’t think one can write fiction and not put herself into the characters. I mean, who do you know any better? Or at least if you are going to write fiction, you better plan on getting to know you better than you ever did before.

Maybe the reason readers compared my writing to yours is because I've written six books set in Minnesota, five of them historical. What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Quirky? Moi? Now to figure out how to define quirky. Become a writer? One needs a slight dose of insanity to be willing to subject yourself and your life to the scrutiny of your characters and also your faithful readers. One man said to me, “I’ve read many of your books and I’ve heard you speak and I’ve listened to your teaching tapes. I know an awful lot about you.” Hmm, is that good or bad? He’s become a good friend, thank you, God. What if----ah, my most famous and used two words---what if he’d been a stalker? A writer for The Enquirer? What secrets have I given away?

Now that I’ve answered all the questions and come back to this, I think one quirky thing is the discussions on my Face Book page re How to eat a chocolate bunny and the other regarding blowing up peeps. We had such fun with those.

I've got to go check thos ot. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I used to think I made that decision when I was a senior in high school, but going through my mother’s things, she was a saver of the first degree, I found a little brown notebook, this was pre-spiral binding, with lined pages and written in it was a story with chapters no less. This must have been from the fifth or sixth grade. So I guess it went back that far. I’ve always loved telling stories.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I think this changes as I’ve gone through life. As a kid, I read ALL the horse and dog books, never read Nancy Drew, moved into cozy mysteries, romances, suspense, rarely fantasy or sci-fi, never out and out horror. Hate gruesome stuff. Love children’s books, read more nonfiction now than I ever did, including memoirs, biographies, natural science and of course historical research. I usually have at least one novel going, a devotional, a business book, self-improvement one and research things. I have a tremendous sense of curiosity so I read books about whatever grabs my attention. I find now that I stay away from some of the darker suspense that I used to read, dislike too much violence, sex and filthy language. Life is too short to waste on books that irritate me. I love to read, would rather read than anything else. And I love to do lots of things, but reading tops them all.

I agree with you. There are too many good books being published today to waste time on books that don't grab you. What other books have you written, whether published or not?

I’ve written 68 books, I think, including 21 what used to be YA and is now tweeners, or middle grade, three non fiction and the rest fiction, both contemporary and historical. All the books I’ve written have been published. There are a lot of starts in my files that never went anywhere, but I’ve operated under the credo that I don’t write a book until I’ve sold it. I learned that at the first writer’s conference at Warner Pacific Colleg in Portland, OR in 1980. I’ve been in this business for a long time which is another one of those hard to believe things in my life.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

Good question, who says I’m sane? I depend on God’s word to help keep me tethered to reality, but then I write fiction so I live in my imaginary worlds. When things get out of hand, I realize I’m not spending enough time with my journal and The Word. I also learned how to relax years ago due to severe headaches. Taking a deep breath, holding it until the count of ten and slowly exhaling, done three times, goes a long way to releasing the tension. Try it. Whenever I can, I get off the merry go round and read. Reading always helps keep me sane.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Character names are very important to me. I find out the meaning of names, have several baby naming books to help with this, and name my characters for either who they are or who they are to become. I like finding nicknames too. Since I write historicals, many of them with Norwegian immigrants, I use a lot of Norwegian names. I also pay attention to the sounds of the names. In several books, I had to rename a character because they insisted. They, meaning the characters.

I had one of those in my newest release. It took three times for me to please him, and he was a relatively minor character. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

That Wayne and I have been married for forty-seven years. This is truly one of God’s miracles or maybe it is forty-seven years of small miracles. But if you mean what I did, I’m not sure. Guess I’ll come back to this one later.

Well, this is later and I still am not sure. I guess that I write books firstly to entertain, that is my goal, but the wondrous thing is that God uses those stories to speak to people. I am in awe that I get to be part of this. Changing lives, God’s job but He lets us help. Can’t get much better than this.

James and I will celebrate our forty-sixth anniversary this year. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

Most people who know me would think I’d say a horse, because I dearly love horse. But then I can’t picture life without a dog either. And I love elephants and whales. Pigs are really cool people, talk about personality and smart, oh my. So, I’m thinking, what animal really loves making people happy? Unconditional love comes from dogs. And I want to love the way Jesus loves, unconditionally. So I guess I’m a golden retriever, pure love wrapped up in gold fur.

What is your favorite food?

Oh fiddle, bad question. I like food, I like cooking food, growing food, and enjoying a good meal with friends. But favorite depends on what day and mood I am in. And what meal time it is. I love home made cinnamon rolls, salads with lots of bright and tasty vegetables and grilled chicken, a good rib steak, with the bone in, thank you. Potatoes baked, fried, mashed, salad, especially the red potatoes grown in the Red River Valley of ND. So how can I say a favorite? That’s like asking me which of my children is my favorite. Sheesh.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Who says I’ve overcome it? Greatest problem is always BIC. Butt in chair. I’ve overcome a lot of procrastination but some hangs on. Once I start writing, I can go fast but the pressure has to be on. I used to meet my deadlines, hit a bad patch, and am back on track. Now to stay that way.

What advice would you give to an author just starting out?

Get thee to a writer’s conference, learn all you can about the craft, and keep on writing. You need alligator hide and bull dog tenacity to make it in this industry. Also make sure this is where God is calling you to be. There are other livelihoods far easier.

Amen to that. Tell us about the featured book?

No Distance too Far is the second in the Home to Blessing series, in which Astrid Bjorklund is the main character. In A Measure of Mercy, Astrid graduates from Blessing High School and has to decide whether she should continue working with Dr. Elizabeth and/or go to Chicago for a surgical rotation to improve her surgical skills. Or is Joshua Landsverk to be the love of her life and she stay in Blessing to be near him? Both these books are about Astrid trying to understand what God wants her to do with her life. Is He calling her to be a surgeon, or is that a call to the medical mission field she is hearing? Astrid believes she is a healer like her mother and prays that God will use her to help restore the ill and injured. But what about Africa? I’m working on the third and final book in the series, A Heart for Home, due out next March.

I'd love to have you back on the blog with that book. Please give us the first page of this one.

March 1904Athens, Georgia

The dream was a lie. She was in Georgia, not Blessing.

Staring out the window did nothing to calm the butterflies rampaging in her middle. Astrid tried swallowing—once, twice—no matter, they continued to spiral and cavort. She laid a hand on her diaphragm and closed her eyes. Please, Lord, fill me with your calm and peace.

A throat being cleared behind her caught her attention. She turned, swallowed again, and smiled. At least she hoped she smiled.

"Dean Highsmith will see you now." The young man needed to loosen his collar. He appeared to be near to strangling.

"Thank you."

"Come this way." He motioned her to accompany him, opened a heavy carved door, and escorted her in. "Dr. Bjorklund to see you, sir."

What a hook! How can readers find you on the Internet?

I am on Twitter, laurainesnellin; Face Book, Lauraine Snelling, which I have a ball on; and I have two web sites. Laurainesnelling.comand BlessingND.com. Blessing is the town I created in the Red River Series and this website brings the town news, and the events that are going on now, including Blessing Square in Drayton ND and the play, Bound for Blessing, based on the first three books of the series. There will be four performances of the play in Drayton in July. See my website for further information. Hope to see you there.

Thank you, Lauraine, for the enjoyable time with you.

Readers, here's a link to the book. By using the link when you order, you help support this blog.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Welcome, Marlayne. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Interesting (and very unique) question. I think the moments when you see any sense of humor in my book/characters is the most reflective of me.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I have a long list to choose from so you can take your pic: 1) When I was 7 I bathed nude at a playboy photo shoot in Beverly Hills (featuring my older sister) in the 1960’s because I didn’t have a bathing suit and HAD to go swimming in the gorgeous Grecian pool. 2) I used to always chat with people in the next booth over at restaurants when I was a kid and would eventually end up eating with another family. 3) Shortly after becoming a Christian I rode the bus up to Los Angeles with a round, red “Jesus Loves You” sticker on the end of my nose (no one would look at me). 4) I went to my hubby’s work with my best friend and danced/lip-synched to the song “My Guy” for his birthday along with a enlarged photo of me and Fabio (yes THE FABIO – I really met him) which we whipped out during the verse: “no muscle-bond man can take my hand from my guy.” I could go on forever…

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I wrote a lot of short stories with my best friend when I was 12 (hundred actually) but I think it was this year, after receiving consistently great reviews on The Victor that I finally was able to believe that I was a good writer.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I loved all the classical Fairytales as a kid, Heidi, Black Beauty, all the classics, I also love medieval fantasy/fiction with an underlying Christian theme. I love the King Arthur legends and Robin Hood, etc. I also enjoy biographies I’ve people I’m interested in.

What other books have you written, whether published or not?

The Victor is my first official “book”. I work as an administrative assistant and am a wife and mom which hasn’t left much time for anything else. I’m currently working on a prequel to The Victor (Sword Brothers) as well as a fictionalized account of my life (An Unremarkable Life).

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

Thank God, I only work part-time now which leaves me time to get my nails done every other week, cook dinner at a decent hour and the rest of my free time is spent running errands and then on my laptop talking to people about my book (or writing stories for them as gifts). When I was working full-time a year ago and not getting home until 6:30pm on a daily basis I absolutely felt like a rat on a hamster wheel. Something had to give. Thank God, they fired me. I also try to take out each morning to read a David Wilkerson devotional and get in some scripture reading.

I've loved David Wilkerson's writings since the '70s. How do you choose your characters’ names?

For the main character’s I wanted to use names that were reflective of what they represented: Ardon for Adam, Eloth for Elohim, Joshua for Yeshua. Other names just popped into my head as I typed. I don’t agonize too much over stuff like that.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Hands down the publication of The Victor after almost 30 years and the reception it is getting.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

I would like to be the female companion to my dog Buddy because he is just so darn cute and cuddly.

What is your favorite food?

There isn’t enough room on the computer to list them all; that’s why I’m on Weight Watchers but if I ABSOLUTELY have to select one: Rocky Road ice-cream.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Not having a good idea or inspiration is a serious roadblock for me. As far as overcoming I couldn’t say it was perseverance since I actually gave up on it for 15 years. I think God put the book on the back burner of my life until the creation of the internet and all the social networking sites now available.

What advice would you give to an author just starting out?

Never give up or it won’t happen. Keep writing and join a critique group and if all else fails, seriously look into self-publishing. A lot of the recent New York Times bestsellers initially self-published their novels only to eventually achieve great success. Just make sure to read the terms and conditions of any contract CAREFULLY.

Tell us about the featured book.

The Victor falls into many niches and genres. Young adult, fantasy/fiction, historical romance, Christian romance and high allegory. I had it Lexile scored (1060) and it is worth 15 Accelerated Reader points for ages 12 and up and comes with a Teacher’s Lesson Plan for those who are teachers or home school. I have had great responses from pre-teens, teens and adults of both genders all the way up to adults in their 60s including those who don’t even like medieval fantasy fiction. It retells the Gospel as a medieval love story and has gone into public schools since there is no mention of religion.

Please give us the first page of the book.

An icy wind streamed over the hilltop from the nearby sea, chilling the sentries who stood watch from high atop the castle’s battlements. Below them in the dark courtyard a solitary figure in hood and cloak ducked under a stone archway, shouldering open the door to the gatehouse. "Greetings on this frigid morn!" he nodded to the frowning guard, throwing back his hood. He withdrew a small leather wineskin, uncorking the stopper with his teeth.

"Segrid, what are you doing here at this ungodly hour?" Thaddeus scowled, pushing away the skin. "You know drink is forbidden upon the watch!"

Segrid’s hand flashed out and caught hold and with a violent yank, he pulled the guard forward into his dagger, impaling him. Blood spewed from the wound as he twisted the blade out, gutting him. Thaddeus’s eyes stared at him in horrified surprise then he slumped lifelessly onto the floor. Segrid straightened, watching dispassionately as the pool of blood slowly blossomed outwards from the body, convinced that Thaddeus would not rise again. He grasped hold of the drawbridge’s winch and began working it downwards to lower it for his Master’s waiting army. Thus preoccupied, the assassin failed to notice the small page cowering within the shadows of a nearby alcove, awakened by his foul deed. Hardly daring to breathe, the trembling lad inched along the wall toward the rope that held the portcullis aloft, hoping he could escape the murderer’s notice before he was slaughtered alike. With slow, quiet movements, he took out a small knife and quietly began to saw upon the taut rope.

Baron Lucius of North Umberland waited anxiously under the nearby boughs of surrounding trees staring intently at the slowly lowering drawbridge in anticipation. The wind was bitterly cold, but its incessant howling masked the rattle and chink of his men's mailcoats and the snort of their impatient horses as they waited to commence their surprise attack. Suddenly, he froze in his saddle. With pounding heart, he watched the portcullis suddenly drop. The page had done his work before Segrid could kill him. The sound of his anguished scream instantly alerted all the guards upon the wall but it was too late!

Lucius had lost his advantage, but there was no turning back now..."Fire the arrow!" he snapped to the archer on his right. The archer stared at him in disbelief. "Mi'lord!” he protested. “We’re outnumbered three to one! ‘Tis madness...!"

"I’ve yet one chance at victory!" Lucius growled in the archer's face. "Fire the blasted arrow!"

With a grim frown of disapproval, the archer ignited his pitch-dipped arrow in the concealed campfire and shot high, giving the signal for Lucius' army to storm the walls. Trumpets blared forth from the trees, mingling with the screams of his men. "Attack! Attack! Attack! Breach the walls! Bring Ellioth to its knees!”

Armed with swords, crossbows, and arrows, Eloth’s knights poured from their quarters in various stages of undress, fitting arrows to the string even as they ran. In short order their long bows and crossbows were returning fire, filling the air with a deadly hail of projectiles that slowly and systematically decimated their enemy outside the walls. Alarm bells pealed loudly, adding their clamor to the growing concert of war, clanging loudly for reinforcements to join the fray.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I have a book website as well as a blog where I write stories upon request. All the links are below:

Thank you, Marlayne, for spending this time with us.Readers, Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Melissa (Purelybynature) is the winner of Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist.

JudyLynn is the winner of Steadfast Soldier by Cheryl Wyatt. By the way, JudyLynn, I almost named my second daughter Judy Lynn, but she ended up being Jennifer Lynn.

Casey is the winner of Chasing Lilacs by Carla Stewart.

TNPrincess is the winner of The Six-Liter Club by Harry Kraus.

Cynde L. Hammond is the winner of Endgame by Roxanne Rustand. Congratulations, everyone. Send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.You have 6 weeks to claim your book.
If you didn't win and you plan to order the book, please use the link provided on the individual interview. By using that link when you order, you will help support this blog.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Welcome, Dianne. You are writing nonfiction. Do you also write fiction?

The closest that I’ve come to writing fiction is when I write opening scenarios as illustrations for devotionals. I usually base them on real stories and real people that I know about, but sometimes I create something from my imagination. I always enjoy that and stop to ask, “God, are you preparing me to write fiction?” Right now I’m dreaming—and praying, about writing a novel. Maybe someday…

What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?

I would like to assure readers of my books that I most definitely do not have it all together. Sometimes after writing a devotional, I feel like a hypocrite. I never want to give the impression that I don’t struggle with the issues I write about. Truth is—I’m a mess. My writing isn’t a reflection of my spiritual maturity; it’s an extension of God’s grace and the wisdom found in His Word. Every day I thank Him for using me in spite of my many flaws and my hardheadedness in learning spiritual lessons.Tell us about your family.

My husband (Richard) and I met in college and have been married 36 years. We have two sons (Eric, Kevin), a daughter (Holly), and a son-in-law (Brandon Rose). We’ve been blessed with a 5-year-old granddaughter (Lacey), and a new grandchild due in early June.Have you written other nonfiction books?

Tyndale published my first book in 2005. The One Year On This Day uses origins of holidays, historical anniversaries, current events, and pop culture trivia to illustrate biblical truths. I’ve also contributed stories to a few compilation books including : True Stories of Holiday Cheer and Goodwill, Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace and Classic Christmas.

Do you have any other books in the works right now?

Yes, in October 2010 Baker Books will publish Drawing Closer to God: 365 Meditations on Questions Asked in Scripture. I based the devotionals in this book on questions asked by God, Jesus, different people in the Old Testament, the writers in the New Testament, and even Balaam’s donkey. Each meditation ends with either a reflection question for readers to ask themselves or a question to ask God in prayer.

I’m in the process of writing another one-year devotional book for Baker (still untitled) that moves through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. After it releases October 2011, I will have written more than 1500 devotionals for publication.

What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?

I love hiking and nature-related activities, hanging out with my children and granddaughter, cooking, needlework and knitting, and of course reading, especially classic literature. But when I’m under contract to come up with 365 different ideas for devotionals, I can’t fit much else in my brain or my schedule.Why did you write the featured book?

The editors at Tyndale House asked if I wanted to write a devotional based on women in the Bible. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the project. I was struck by the fact that biblical women struggled with the same basic problems, temptations, and needs that contemporary women do. The project also gave me a new appreciation for how highly God values women and how He shapes us in unique ways to carry out His purposes.

What do you want the reader to take away from the book?

I would like the devotionals to renew readers’ appreciation for how relevant the Bible is to their lives. Also, the overall message I hope to convey is found in the very last devotional of the book. I open with a story of an anxious bride starting down the aisle. When she looks at her groom, she sees a reflection of her beauty in his eyes and his intense longing to claim her as his own.

That scene gives us a little taste of how God looks at us. He loves us just the way we are, even though we don’t see ourselves as desirable, and even when our culture thinks we don’t measure up. And He can’t wait to claim us as His own for all eternity.Where on the Internet can the readers find you?

Readers, here's a link to the book. By using this link when you order, you help support this blog.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Welcome back, Cara. I love your new picture. Now tell us about your salvation experience.

Wow. I think you’re the first person who’s asked this question. I grew up in the church, and made an official decision at a family camp when I was about nine years old. In some ways that was the official date, since I grew up in a home where worshipping God and serving Him was an absolute priority. My parents did a phenomenal job of leading us kids to Him and showing us why we would want to serve Him and dedicate our lives to Him. Something I’m trying very hard to do with my own children. I love it when my six-year-old boy assumes that everyone’s best friend is God and that we should all love Him first and best.

How did you and your spouse meet?

We met at a Christian leadership conference for teens and college students in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Both sets of our parents had heard about Summit Ministries on Dr. Dobson’s show, and “happened” to send us to the same session. I say it’s the only way God could have connected a boy from Indiana and a girl from Nebraska in Colorado!

You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?

Man, another tough question. I’m in a small group of seven authors that formed in December, and it has been incredible. We encourage each other, pray for each other, and kick each other in the rear when we need motivation. So I would invite those gals to my house for a long weekend of brainstorming. We all write different genres, but man do we have a good time online, I can only imagine the fun we’d have brainstorming in person.

Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

I love to speak, but it is difficult to do with small children. So primarily right now, I lead Bible studies at church, and speak to MOPS groups, writing groups, and things like that.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?

Hmmm. Embarrassing. Really? I’m always doing things that could be embarrassing, but usually shake it off and move on.

People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?

The most important thing you can do is sit down in the chair at the computer and write. Even 500 words a day leads to a book at the end of an year. That’s how you write a book and that’s how you eventually have something to show an editor. But writing is all about discipline. You have to be consistent and accountable to yourself if you’re going to write a book.

Tell us about the featured book.

Stars in the Night is a historical suspense with lots of romance set in Hollywood during1942.

When Audra Schaeffer¹s sister disappears in Hollywood, Audra flies there to find her, but has to identify her body instead. Determined to find the killer and bring him to justice, Audra takes a job with the second Hollywood Victory Caravan. Together with Robert Garfield and other stars, she crisscrosses the southern United States as the stars sell war bonds. When Robert¹s ex-wife and another woman are found dead on the train, Audra knows the deaths are tied to her sister¹s. Is the killer is the man she¹s falling in love with? And can she identify the killer before he targets her?

Sounds intriguing. Please give us the first page of the book.

“Well, well, Audra. I do believe you’re ready to take this matter to trial.”

Audra Schaeffer soaked in the atypical praise. While Roger Clarion was a good man and fair boss, he did not toss praise around for any and all to hear. A well of satisfaction pulsed through her. After seven years of school and two years where the only job she could find after law school required her to serve as a paralegal, Mr. Clarion had given her a chance. If everything went well, she’d litigate her first case in Superior Court Two in one month. A simple case, but it was hers.

He pulled reading glasses low on his bulbous nose and examined her over the rims. “Don’t let me down, or we’ll both be the laughing stock of the Indianapolis legal community.”

“Yes, sir.” The image of her standing at the podium in front of counsel table, a legal pad resting on it, filled her mind. She’d finally done it! She’d earned the right to try a case.

He smiled then shook his head. “I never thought I’d see the day where I’d have a woman working for me as an attorney of all things.” After a twist to his bow tie and a tug on his sweater vest, he stood and grabbed the wool jacket hanging on the coat tree in the corner behind his oak desk. “Now get out of here. I understand you have an important call to get back home.”

Audra couldn’t hide the smile that tugged at her lips. “Fortunately, Rosemary’s usually a few minutes late.” Rosemary couldn’t be hurried to join the rest of the world from the day she was born a week late. Audra stood and walked to the doorway. “You can’t believe how hard it is to wait for her calls. But it is a blessing her landlady allows Rosie to call us regularly from her phone. I don’t think Mother could handle it if we didn’t have our weekly report on all things Hollywood.”

Readers, here's a link to the book. By using this link when you order, you help support this blog.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.